Our ref: berlin1885/rf
17 January 2025
Ambassador Andrey Kelin
Ambassador of the Russia Federation
6/7 Kensington Palace
London
W8 4QP
Your Excellency
Re: The Berlin Act 1885 and Yorubaland
I am the leader of the Yoruba Party In the UK (YPUK). I write to you because Russia participated in the Berlin Conference of 1884/5, and subsequently signed the Berlin Act 1885. Britain’s King George V, under the cover of the Berlin Act, on 22 November 1913 promulgated the Colony of Nigeria Order in Council, which created an overlordship over the Yorubaland, which Britain then transferred to Nigeria under the auspices of a 1960 Independence Act. YPUK seeks by legal means to overturn this overlordship, and it is for this reason that we respectfully make this request for your assistance and support.
But for the Berlin Act 1885, Britain would not have created the overlordship that it did over Yorubaland. First, the British government had accepted recommendations of 24 June 1865 of a Select Committee to evacuate all settlements in West Africa including Lagos (in Yorubaland) and to not establish new ones. Second, Britain on 23 July 1888 concluded in writing a treaty of trade and friendship with Yorubaland that Britain itself had requested on 23 May 1888. Britain ratified the 1888 Britain-Yorubaland Treaty on 16 June 1890. Britain announced the existence of the treaty to the whole world by publishing it in London.
The 1888 Britain-Yorubaland Treaty was very clear in its intent. It covered the ‘four corners’ of the Yorubaland ‘embracing within its area that inhabited by all Yoruba-speaking peoples’. The treaty was intended to maintain ‘for ever, friendly relations with the subjects of Her majesty, the Queen’. The treaty was intended to develop ‘the resources of Yoruba by means of legitimate trade with the subjects of Her Majesty…’.
The 1888 Treaty provides:
* ‘peace and friendship between the subjects of Her Majesty…and of the Alaafin’ (Article 1).
* ‘the subjects of the Queen may always trade freely with the people of Oyo and the Yoruba-speaking countries in every article’ (Article 2).
* British subjects would be charged ‘tolls, duties, fees, imposts or charges’ that were customary and reasonable or as agreed between the parties (Article 3).
* ‘all differences or disputes shall be adjusted by [the Alaafin]’ or referred by him to arbitration (Article 4).
* ‘no session of territory and no other Treaty or Agreement shall be made by’ [the Alaafin] other than this one (Article 7).
* ‘In consideration of the faithful observance of the foregoing Articles of Agreement’, the Alaafin would be paid a yearly stipend unless he committed a breach or neglect of all or one of the terms (Article 8).
Russia on account of participation in the 1884/5 Berlin Conference and signatory to the Act owes Yorubaland a debt that could be repaid with assistance and support as the Yoruba seek to rid themselves of the yoke of this overlordship. I should be most grateful if you would be kind enough to indicate as much in your response to this letter. I am available for a meeting if you wish to discuss this matter further.
I apologise for making this letter public. Please note that I do so in good faith.
Please acknowledge receipt.
Respectfully yours
Baasegun (Dr) Olusola Oni
Leader, The Yoruba Party in the UK